Takeaways from Vermont campaign finance filings

Supporters cheer for Republican candidate for governor Phil Scott during the Republican election night party at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center in South Burlington on election night, Nov. 8.(Photo: BRIAN JENKINS/for the FREE PRESS)

Campaign finance reports tracking the final days of spending in the 2016 election were filed on Tuesday.

A few takeaways:

Television advertisements in the governor's race cost $8.7 million, according to an analysis by the Center for Public Integrity. The greatest chunk of that money came through the political action committee known as A Stronger Vermont, a Republican-funded group that attacked Democrat Sue Minter and supported Republican Phil Scott.

The Republican Governors Association spent more than $3 million to influence the governor's race, according to recent campaign finance disclosures.

The National Rifle Association spent a little more than $8,000 in support of candidates, including Scott for governor. The pharmaceutical industry also jumped into the election by supporting Scott for governor, Randy Brock for lieutenant governor, and giving $8,500 to the state Republican party. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America had also donated to Vermont House Democrats in early 2015.

After a legal marijuana effort this spring stalled in the Legislature, the pro-legalization Marijuana Policy Project doled out contributions to sympathetic candidates up and down the ballot, totaling more than $18,000 in spending.

The reports filed Tuesday likely represent the bulk of the campaign fundraising and spending this election cycle, but any candidates who are still closing their books have until Dec. 15 to file a final report with the secretary of state.

This article was first published Nov. 22, 2016.

Contact April McCullum at 802-660-1863 or amccullum@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @April_McCullum. This story first appeared online on Nov. 22, 2016. Contact Jess Aloe at 802-660-1874 or jaloe@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Jess_Aloe

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